IP Library Granted Patent US 7,722,116
Granted Patent B2
US 7,722,116 · App. 11/721,522 · Granted May 25, 2010

Acoustic seat vibratory-bone-conduction type

Assignees: Clarion Co. Ltd.; Tachi-S Co. Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,722,116
App. No.
11/721,522
Granted
May 25, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

In a seat, a bass acoustic vibration transmission section and a treble acoustic vibration transmission section are arranged distinctively with respect to a seat occupant, such that those two acoustic vibration transmission sections are disposed independently of each other, thereby achieving both of the following two effects: an acoustic performance worthy of acoustic seat; and a seating comfort essentially required as a seat. A vibration conduction unit is provided, which comprises a combination of: one bass speaker; a support plate to which that one bass speaker is secured; and a network cushion member of three-dimensional structure arranged on an anterior surface of the support plate. Such vibration conduction unit is disposed and accommodated in a cut-out region defined in a seat padding to a predetermined extent of covering an area of seat back which corresponds to a lumbar part of seat occupant, whereas on the other hand, a pair of treble speakers are respectively provided in a pair of local areas of the seat padding which correspond respectively to left-side and right-side shoulder portions of seat back, such that each of those two local areas of seat padding has an opening defined therein, wherein the opening lies anteriorly of an output side of each of the two treble speakers.

Claims (11)

1. An acoustic seat of vibratory-bone-conduction type, comprising: a seat back having a working backrest surface on which a back of an occupant on said acoustic seat is to rest, said seat back at least having a foam member provided therein as a seat padding, such that said foam member is disposed on a side of said working backrest surface, wherein said foam member is formed from a foam material inclusive of urethane foam;

a vibration conduction unit comprising a combination of:

one bass speaker;

a support plate to which said one bass speaker is secured, with one side thereof projecting posteriorly of the support plate, said support plate being resiliently suspended and supported by means of a predetermined spring element with respect to a seat back frame; and

a network cushion member arranged anteriorly of said support plate in such a manner as to allow the network cushion member itself to be disposed at a point anteriorly of said one bass speaker, said network cushion member being of a three-dimensional structure, wherein a continuous hollow fiber formed from a thermoplastic resin material is looped or curved randomly, with a plurality of points thereof being contacted and entangled with one another, into a lump of three-dimensionally reticulated fiber;

said vibration conduction unit being disposed and accommodated in a cut-out region of said seat padding, wherein said cut-out region is defined in the seat padding to a predetermined extent of covering an area of said seat back which corresponds to a lumbar part of said occupant; and

a pair of treble speakers respectively provided in a pair of local areas of said seat padding which correspond respectively to left-side and right-side shoulder portions of said seat back, such that each of said pair of local areas of said seat padding has an opening defined therein, wherein said opening lies anteriorly of an output side of each of said pair of treble speakers.

2. The acoustic seat of vibratory-bone-conduction type as described in claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of treble speakers is arranged in each of said pair of local areas of said seat padding which correspond respectively to said left-side and right-side shoulder portions of said seat back, in such a manner that the output side thereof is at least exposed in a direction to a side where said working backrest surface of said seat back lies.

3. The acoustic seat of vibratory-bone-conduction type as described in claim 1 , wherein each of said pair of treble speakers is disposed and accommodated in a recession of predetermined configuration, said recession being formed in each of said pair of local areas of said seat padding which correspond respectively to said left-side and right-side shoulder portions of said seat back, such that said opening associated with said each of said pair of local areas of said seat padding lies anteriorly of said output side of said each of said pair of treble speakers, and wherein a protection wall element is provided peripherally of said output side of said each of said pair of treble speakers so as to project towards a side anteriorly of said particular output side, said protection wall element being adapted to prevent entry of said seat padding into a point anteriorly of said output side of said each of said pair of treble speakers from a periphery of said particular output side.

4. The acoustic seat of vibratory-bone-conduction type as described in claim 3 , wherein said protection wall element comprises a rubber ring element which is resiliently deformable.

5. The acoustic seat of vibratory-bone-conduction type as described in claim 1 , wherein a slab material is disposed anteriorly of said network cushion member.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2010
From: TAKADA, NAOKI; UEHARA, MASAYOSHI; HASHIMOTO, MASATERU
To: CLARION CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 023977/0163 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2010
From: MATSUHASHI, MASAHIRO
To: TACHI-S CO. LTD.
Reel/Frame 023977/0171 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2006-052816 · Feb 28, 2006 · national
JP 2006-052817 · Feb 28, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090295202A1 · Dec 3, 2009